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The Daily Beat: 13 November
Speaker Shalva Papuashvili claims that Georgia does not intend to join the international sanctions against Russia as it contradicts the will and interests of the Georgian people. “If we had imposed sanctions on Russia last year, it would have meant a -10% drop for the Georgian economy – and, accordingly, increased prices and economic hardship …
Tags: China-Georgia Relations, Culture Ministry, Death of Georgian fighter in Ukraine, Education Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Geostat, Giorgi Amilakhvari, Kakha Kaladze, Opposition, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Sanctions, Sergei Lavrov, Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, Tamaz Ginturi, Tbilisi Pride
14/11/2023 - 09:00
Jozwiak: Tbilisi Likely to Get Candidate Status; Conditions Must Be Met for Accession Talks
According to Rikard Jozwiak, Europe editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the European Commission’s recommendation to grant Georgia candidate status with nine conditions “probably means” that Tbilisi will receive the status in December regardless of how much progress it makes on reforms and “fulfilling the conditions will be more about moving to the next stage: …
Tags: EU bid, Georgia, Rikard Jozwiak
13/11/2023 - 21:32
Georgia’s Foreign Trade Up 16.2% in January-October 2023
On November 13, the National Statistics Service of Georgia (Geostat) published express data indicating that the external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia increased by 16.2% in January-October 2023 compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, reaching USD 17, 786.1 million. According to Geostat, Georgia’s external merchandise trade saw exports rise by 12.5% to …
Tags: Foreign Trade, Georgia, Geostat
Another Georgian Fighter Killed in Ukraine
Another Georgian fighter, Irakli Kurtsikidze, was killed while fighting in Ukraine, Head of the Georgian group in the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, Vano Nadiradze, reported. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia confirmed the information to civil.ge. According to Nadiradze, Georgian fighter was killed on November 10. Irakli Kutsikidze. Source: Nadiradze Vano / FB The …
“Selective National Human Rights Action Plan” – Tbilisi Pride Statement
On November 10, Tbilisi Pride issued a statement entitled “Selective National Human Rights Action Plan,” addressing the exclusion of LGBTQ community members in the National Action Plan for the Protection of Human Rights (2024-2026), initiated by the Georgian government on October 31. 02/11/2023 – Draft National Action Plan for Protection of Human Rights 2024-2026 Presented …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Human Rights, LGBTQ Rights, Tbilisi Pride
12/11/2023 - 20:31
Tamaz Ginturi Buried with Military Honors
Tamaz Ginturi’s was buried today with military honors in the village of Kirbali, a few hundred meters from where he was killed during an attempted illegal detention by the Russian occupying forces on November 6. Ginturi’s relatives, friends, fellow villagers, politicians, activists and human rights activists also came to pay their respects and bid him …
Tags: occupation, Tamaz Ginturi, Tskhinvali Region
11/11/2023 - 15:51
PM and President Attend Paris Peace Forum 2023
Both the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and President Salome Zurabishvili attended the Paris Peace Forum 2023. They took part in the panel discussions. President Salome Zurabishvili’s Address During her speech at the panel “From Multicrisis to Multiconflicts: how to stop the vicious circle” President Zurabishvili highlighted the European Commission’s positive recommendation for Georgia’s candidate …
Tags: Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, Paris Peace Forum, Salome Zurabishvili
The Daily Beat: 10 November
Following the request of the Public Defender, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) issued the Urgent Opinion on Proposed Amendments to the Law of Georgia on Assemblies and Demonstrations (Tents Law) and to the Administrative Offences Code of Georgia. In its urgent opinion, the OSCE/ODIHR urged authorities …
Tags: EU Candidacy, France, Information Integrity Coalition, OSCE/ODIHR, President Salome Zurabishvili, Public Defender, Tents Law, Transparency International Georgia
President Zurabishvili Speaks to French Media
On November 9-10, the President of Georgia, Salome Zourabishvili, gave interviews to the French media outlets France24, Radio France Info, LCI and RFI. President Zurabishvili welcomed the European Commission’s recommendation to grant Georgia candidate status. She highlighted the importance of the 2024 parliamentary elections and spoke about Russia, its occupation of the Georgian regions, and …
Tags: EU Candidacy, France 24, Paris Peace Forum, President Salome Zurabishvili, Radio France Info
10/11/2023 - 21:39
OSCE/ODIHR Urges Government to Reject Controversial ‘Tents Law’
Following the request of the Georgian Public Defender on October 18, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) on November 10th issued the Urgent Opinion on Proposed Amendments to the Law of Georgia on Assemblies and Demonstrations and to the Administrative Offences Code of Georgia. …
Tags: OSCE/ODIHR, Public Defender, Tents Law
Information Integrity Coalition Calls on Government to Reject anti-Western Messages
On November 10, the Information Integrity Coalition released a statement concerning European Commission’s recommendation to grant Georgia EU candidate status with a new condition to address disinformation.” The Coalition urges the Georgian government “to reject anti-Western messages and groups, that disseminate them, utilize strategic communications departments accordingly, and take decisive actions to implement the European …
Tags: CSOs, Disinformation, European Commission, Georgia
TI-Georgia: Georgian Railway’s Tender Allegedly Biased in Favor of Russian Companies
Georgian Railways’ GEL 184 million tender is reportedly biased in favor of companies holding certificates from the Eurasian Customs Union, claims local watchdog Transparency International / TI-Georgia. On November 3, Georgian Railways announced a GEL 184 million tender for the acquisition of 10 electric vehicles. The application for companies opens from December 3 to 5, …
International Reactions on EC Recommendation to Grant Georgia Candidate Status
The European Commission’s recommendation on Georgia’s candidate status was followed by international reactions, which Civil.ge has collected for our readers. HR/VP Josep Borrell in his video address emphasized that the Georgian people have repeatedly shown their unshakable commitment to European values. According to him, it has anchored Georgia on its European path and he emphasized …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Georgia
The Daily Beat: 9 November
The NATO Military Committee, led by Chair Admiral Bob Bauer, visited Georgia. According to the defense ministry, Admiral Bauer met with Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, discussing NATO-Georgia cooperation, the regional security landscape, and ongoing security challenges in and around Georgia, focusing on the Black Sea region and implementing security and defense reforms. NATO-Georgia Military Committee …
Tags: CSOs, Emanuel Macron, EU Candidacy, Georgian Dream, Interior Ministry, Juansher Burchuladze, Meduza, NATO Military Committee, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Prosecutor’s Office, Rafail Shepelev, State Security Service of Georgia
Russian Occupation Forces Release Illegally Detained Levan Dotiashvili
On November 9, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) reported that Levan Dotiashvili, a Georgian citizen arrested on November 6 by the Russian occupation forces in the vicinity of the occupied Tskhinvali region, near the village of Kirbali (Gori district), has been released. He was arrested on November 6 while trying to enter the …
Tags: Georgia, Russia Occupation, State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG), Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia
09/11/2023 - 22:55
PM Garibashvili Meets French President Macron
On November 9, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, at the Élysée Palace. According to the Georgian government, the meeting focused on the European Commission’s decision to recommend Georgia’s candidacy to the European Council. Delighted to meet with @EmmanuelMacron 🇫🇷. We are grateful for the President's support on …
Georgian CSOs Statement Following EC Recommendation on Georgia’s EU Candidacy
On November 8, following the EC recommendation to the EU Council to grant candidate status to Georgia, the representatives of Georgian civil society gathered in front of the monument of prominent Georgian thinkers and public figures, Ilia Chavchavadze and Akaki Tsereteli in central Tbilisi to congratulate the Georgian people on the European Commission’s decision and …
Tags: CSOs, EU Candidacy, Georgia
NATO Military Committee Visits Georgia
The NATO Military Committee, led by Chair of the Committee Admiral Bob Bauer, is visiting Georgia on November 8-9. According to the Ministry of Defense, Admiral Bauer met with Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze at the Ministry, where the sides discussed the regional security landscape, ongoing challenges, key aspects of NATO-Georgia cooperation and opportunities for …
Russian Lawyers: Banned Movement Participant Vanishes from Tbilisi, Suspected in Russian Custody
According to the Russian group of lawyers and human rights defenders known as Pervy Otdel (First Department), Rafail Shepelev, a participant in the ultra-leftist and anarchist “Artpodgotovka”(Artillery/art – preparation) movement banned in Russia, disappeared in Tbilisi on October 12. According to the same source, he may be in custody in Russia, facing charges related to …
Georgian Prosecutor’s Office and International Cooperation Expose Transnational Fraud
According to the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office, large-scale actions against fraudulent call centers in 23 countries, including Georgia, were carried out with the participation of the Office and representatives of relevant agencies of 11 countries. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, a large-scale operation was carried out on the territory of Georgia in July 2023 in cooperation …
Tags: Fraud, Georgia, Prosecutor’s Office
The Daily Beat: 8 November
The European Commission recommended granting EU candidate’s status to Georgia. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the decision at the EU press conference dedicated to the 2023 Enlargement package and the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The final decision on granting the status will be taken by the …
Tags: EU Candidacy, European Commission, Meduza, Opposition, Pawel herczynski, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Rafail Shepelev, Ursula von der Leyen, US Embassy
Prime Minister’s Press Conference on EC Recommendation related to Georgia’s EU Candidacy
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili held a press-conference after European Commission President Ursula Von Der Layen announced the recommendation of the European Commission to grant Georgia the EU candidate status granted it fulfils nine conditions. Garibashvili thanked the international leaders and called the European Commission’s decision “historic.” “This period has been very busy…we have done …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Irakli Garibashvili, Kirbali
08/11/2023 - 18:47
Georgian Politicians React to Receiving EU Candidacy Recommendation
Today, on November 8, the European Commission recommended to grant EU candidate status to Georgia. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision at the EU joint press conference dedicated to the 2023 Enlargement Package and the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Civil.ge collected reactions from government officials …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Georgia
EC Spells Out Nine Steps for Georgia to Start Accession Negotiations
2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy issued by the European Commission recommends granting EU candidacy status to Georgia, provided it implements a number of reforms. The report says that “the Commission welcomes the reform efforts undertaken by Georgia in line with the country’s Constitution, which envisages its integration into the EU as a priority for …
Tags: EU bid, EU Candidacy, European Commission
EU Ambassador: This is a big recognition from the EU, however Important Work Remains to be Done
EU Ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński held a press conference today following the European Commission’s decision to recommend that Georgia be granted EU candidate status on condition that it implements a series of reforms. He congratulated all political leaders, government and opposition, as well as civil society and the media, adding “but first and foremost …
European Commission Recommends EU Candidacy for Georgia
European Commission today recommended to grant EU candidate’s status to Georgia. The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced the decision at the EU press conference dedicated to the 2023 Enlargement package and the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The European Council will take the decision on granting the status …
Tags: EU bid, EU Candidacy, European Commission
Expectations for EC Recommendation on Georgia’s EU Candidate Status with Additional Conditions
The European Commission’s evaluation of Georgia’s candidacy for EU membership is scheduled to be released on November 8 at 15:00 Georgian time. On November 8, Politico’s Playbook “EU membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova” reported, citing anonymous sources: “Good news for Tbilisi, too: They will also recommend that EU governments grant candidate status to Georgia, two …
Tags: EU, EU Candidacy, Georgia
The Daily Beat: 7 November
The international community, including EUHR Josep Borrell, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, Ambassadors, members of the European Parliament, and several foreign ministries reacted to the killing of a Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi by the Russian occupying forces, condemning the shooting and expressing condolences to his family. While Georgian politicians from all sides condemned the …
Tags: CRRC, EU Candidacy, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgian Dream, Josep Borell, OC Media, President Salome Zurabishvili, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Tamaz Ginturi
Estonia’s Foreign Minister: “If the priorities are fulfilled, Georgia should get the candidate status”
As Georgia awaits the European Commission’s recommendation on Georgia’s candidacy to become a candidate to join the European Union, we reached out to chief diplomats of the European countries with a few brief questions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, responded with his outlook on the EC’s anticipated decision and sent the following …
07/11/2023 - 23:22
Survey: Only a Third of Georgians Anticipate EU Candidacy to be Granted to Georgia
According to the Caucasus Research Resource Centers (CRRC) Survey published by OC Media on November 7, only 33% of Georgians believe the country will be granted the EU candidacy status, while 45% of the population are skeptical, and the rest are unsure. The survey, which was conducted on October 4-8, also found a strong partisan …
Tags: CRRC Georgia, EU Candidacy, Opinion Survey
SJC: Government’s efforts to ensure security near the occupation line are weak
A local human rights watchdog, the Social Justice Center issued a statement on the incident that occurred in the village of Kirbali near the Tskhinvali occupation line, when Russian occupation forces killed a Georgian citizen and abducted another. According to the SJC, the practice of illegal arrests and abductions is a serious consequence of the …
Tags: Georgia, Russian Occupation, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia
Georgian Politicians React to Killing of Georgian Citizen by Occupation Forces
On November 6, Russian occupying forces shot dead a Georgian citizen, Tamaz Ginturi, near the village of Kirbali in the vicinity of the Tskhinvali region occupation line (municipality of Gori). According to the SSSG, another Georgian citizen was abducted. 06/11/2023 – Russian Occupation Forces Kill One Georgian Citizen, Abduct Another While politicians from all sides …
Tags: Kirbali, occupation
Latvia’s Foreign Minister on Georgia’s EU Candidacy: “It is up to the Georgian government to do its utmost”
As Georgia awaits the European Commission’s recommendation on Georgia’s candidacy to become a candidate to join the European Union, we reached out to chief diplomats of the European countries with a few brief questions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Krišjānis Kariņš was the first to respond with his outlook on the EC’s anticipated …
President Holds Press Conference, Announces “Signatures’ Campaign” to Send Message to Europe
“Russia’s centuries-old policy of killing our citizens and kidnapping them on our territory continues. This is Russia’s “peaceful” policy,” said Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on November 7 at a press conference she held following the murder of Georgian citizen Tamaz Ginturi by Russian occupation forces yesterday in the vicinity of the village Kirbali, near the …
Tags: Russia Occupation, Salome Zurabishvili, Tamaz Ginturi, Tskhinvali Region
Special Representatives of EU and Member States for EaP Visit Georgia
On November 6, the delegation of Special Representatives of the European Union and Member States for the Eastern Partnership began its visit to Georgia. The delegation already met with Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili for a working lunch. They also held a meeting with the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli …
Tags: EU Eastern Partnership, European Union (EU), Foreign Minister of Georgia, Georgia
International Community Reacts to Russian Occupiers Killing a Georgian Citizen
The international community reacts to the killing of a Georgian citizen by the Russian occupying forces near the village of Kirbali in the Gori district during an attempt by the occupying forces to make an illegal arrest. According to the SSSG, another Georgian citizen was abducted. 06/11/2023 – Russian Occupation Forces Kill One Georgian Citizen, …
Tags: Georgia, Kirbali, Russian Occupation, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia
The Daily Beat: 6 November
Russian occupying forces shot dead a Georgian citizen and abducted another near the Tskhinvali Region occupation line. According to the State Security Service, the shooting happened during an attempt to make an illegal arrest of Georgian citizens. “Active communication is underway using all tools available to the Government of Georgia,” said Security Service in a …
Tags: Archil Tatunashvili, European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM), Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobakhidze, Krišjānis Kariņš, Marita Meparishvili, President Salome Zurabishvili, Rikard Jozwiak, State Security Service of Georgia, Tbilisi City Court, Toivo Klaar, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Vake Park
Technical Meeting in Ergneti Following the Killing of Georgian Citizen by Russian Occupying Forces
Following the technical meeting with the participation of the representatives of Georgian government, of the Russian occupying forces, the occupied Tskhinvali region and the EU Monitoring Mission in the village of Ergneti, in the vicinity of the Tskhinvali occupation line, the Deputy Director of the Information and Analytical Service of the State Security Service of …
Tags: Ergneti, Russian Occupatin, Tskhinvali Region
06/11/2023 - 23:43
Russian Occupation Forces Kill One Georgian Citizen, Abduct Another
On November 6, Russian occupying forces shot dead a Georgian citizen in the vicinity of the occupied Tskhinvali region, near the village of Kirbali (municipality of Gori) during an attempt to make an illegal arrest, the Georgian State Security Service (SSSG) confirmed. According to the same source, another Georgian citizen was abducted. “Active communication is …
Tags: Russian Occupation, State Security Service of Georgia, Tskhinvali Region
Jozwiak: Georgia’s Candidate Status Likely to be Conditional
According to Rikard Jozwiak, Europe editor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Georgia will receive the status of a candidate EU member country “in the end,” however Georgia’s candidate status is likely to be conditional – Tbilisi will probably have to take certain steps to move to the next stage, which will be EU accession negotiations. …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Rikard Jozwiak
Two Sentenced to Prison in “Vake Park” Case
Tbilisi City Court told Civil.ge that defendants Giga Gigashvili, the former head of the City Hall’s Environmental Protection Department, and the expert of the City Hall’s contractor company Vakhtang Londaridze on November 6, had been sentenced to prison in the “Vake Park” case. According to the court’s decision, Giga Gigashvili was sentenced to three years in …
Tags: Georgia, Tbilisi City Court, Vake Park
FM Darchiashvili Meets Latvian Counterpart
On November 3, Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili met with the Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš in Riga. At the meeting, “special attention was paid to the agenda of Georgia’s integration into the European Union,” the Georgian MFA reported. Glad to meet my Latvian counterpart @krisjaniskarins. We had an interesting exchange of views regarding the …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Ilia Darchiashvili, Krišjānis Kariņš, Latvia
05/11/2023 - 10:04
The Daily Beat: 3 November
At a cabinet meeting, PM Irakli Garibashvili presented a revised budget for 2024, announcing increased budget spending by GEL 700 million. According to PM Garibashvil, the allocation of an additional GEL 700 million will be sourced from the increased taxes on profits of the banking system and gambling business. Prime Minister claimed that the country’s …
Tags: Bidzina Ivanishvili, Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, German Federal Foreign Office, Mikheil Saakashvili, Nika Melia, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, State Budget, TI Georgia, United National Movement
04/11/2023 - 09:00
Cabinet Sends Revised 2024 Budget to the Parliament
On November 3, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili held a cabinet meeting where a revised annual budget for 2024 was presented. The initial draft budget was sent to the legislature in September 2023 and revised based on consultations with line ministries and agencies. PM Garibashvili said the budget estimates are taken “conservatively,” with a projected 5% …
Tags: Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister
03/11/2023 - 18:44
Police Works with U.S. to Track, Detain American Fugitive
On November 3, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia reported that the U.S. criminal had been detained in cooperation with the Regional Security Office (RSO) of the U.S. Embassy. James Ulin, RSO officer, praised the cooperation with MIA, and in particular, with its Central Criminal Police Department, as a result of which the fugitive …
CoE Committee of Ministers Decision on Conflict in Georgia
In its October 31 decision on the conflict in Georgia, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE) reiterated that Russia “continues to impede the peaceful conflict resolution process and to undermine the security and stability in the wider region,” through various illegal actions, among them transferring “Sokhumi airport to Russia for reconstruction …
Tags: Abkhazia, Council of Europe, Russian Occupation, Tskhinvali Region
GD Members Say CSOs Appeal to the EU is Disingenuous
The ruling Georgian Dream party members criticized the local non-governmental organizations over their joint statement, issued on November 2, in which nearly 170 CSOs appeal to the European Commission, urging it to recommend to the European Council that Georgia be granted the EU candidate status. The GD leadership claimed CSOs were “organic part of the United …
Tags: EU Candidacy, Irakli Kobakhidze, NGOs
Talk of Joining the Union State of Russia and Belarus Spurs Debate in Occupied Abkhazia
On November 1, the de-facto legislature of the occupied Abkhazia was supposed to hold a special extended meeting of the “Committee on International, Interparliamentary Relations and Relations with Compatriots” to discuss Abkhazia’s readiness to join the Union State of Russia and Belarus. However, as committee chairman Alkhaz Bartsits says, the meeting did not take place …
TI-Georgia: Problem of High Level Corruption Remains Severe
Transparency International-Georgia, an anti-corruption watchdog, has updated its list of alleged high-level corruption cases, involving government officials and their relatives. The list is regularly updated to reflect the high-level corruption situation in Georgia and includes information on specific cases. The current list includes 151 alleged cases of high-level corruption, where at least 162 high-level public …
Georgia’s Annual Inflation at 0.8% in October
Georgia’s annual inflation rate amounted to 0.8% in October 2023, the National Statistics Office (Geostat) reported on November 3. On a monthly basis, meanwhile, consumer prices increased by 0.6%. The annual inflation rate was primarily driven by price changes in miscellaneous goods and services (9.8% increase); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (6.6% increase); housing, water, electricity, gas and …
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